Named by the discoverer in honor of Adriaan Blaauw {1914– }, director of ESO (1970–74), president of the IAU (1976–79) and professor at the Leiden Observatory (1975–1981). He has made many important contributions to stellar kinematics, the structure of the Galaxy and the study of stellar associations. He has been closely associated with ESO since its beginning and has been very active in the furthering of collaboration in European astronomy. He is one of the founders of the European journal Astronomy and Astrophysics and has been Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1969. (M 4788) _ _.